CASE STUDY
A Christian School Expanded Its Campus Without Traditional Parent Fundraising
Christian School
How Generis helped secure $20M+ for expansion in a socioeconomically diverse community—without relying on parent fundraising
This faith-based school is intentionally located in a socioeconomically diverse community. Because a large portion of students receive full or partial tuition support, the team could not depend on typical school fundraising models driven primarily by parents and grandparents.
At the same time, the school had a significant opportunity to expand: renovating a purchased facility and acquiring an abandoned historic building nearby to create more room for students and establish a future home for their middle school.
They reached out to Generis with clarity about what they needed—campaign counsel and coaching built for their unique context, focused on mission-aligned relationships beyond the immediate school community.
THE CHALLENGE
The school needed to secure approximately $12M in private support toward a $20M overall project—without relying on giving from the school community, since many families were not in a position to fund the campaign.
That meant the team had to identify and activate the relationships they already had, communicate the vision beyond their parent base, and use strategic donor engagement and events to connect with partners who aligned with the mission.
THE RESULTS
$20M+
Total Commitments Secured
3+
Seven-Figure Commitments
Services Provided
Coaching and strategic guidance throughout the engagement
Intensive staff coaching to sustain annual giving year over year
Campaign collateral development
Video development to communicate vision and invite investment
“Jon has been such a gift to me and our church! God has given him amazing gifts and He used him big time to inspire a culture of generosity and stewardship!”
Church Executive Pastor
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The Outcome
The school ultimately secured $20M+ in commitments, including at least three seven-figure commitments, and celebrated the completion of the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
A major highlight of the engagement was leadership confidence. The Head of School was a compelling vision-caster, and the campaign coaching helped equip him to engage donors with clarity and trust. In many cases, supporters gave because they believed in the mission—and in the leader carrying it.
Today, the annual fund is thriving, the staff is well trained, and the school is already looking ahead to what could be next.
What Others Can Learn From This Story
Your community shapes your strategy. In a socioeconomically diverse school community, traditional “parents and grandparents fund the project” assumptions may not apply—and that’s okay. Build a plan that fits the reality on the ground.
Lead with vision, not pressure. This campaign gained momentum because donors connected with a clear mission and trusted the leader carrying it.
Find funding beyond the immediate community. When the parent base can’t be the primary source, growth depends on identifying mission-aligned partners, existing relationships, and new networks.
Communication creates access. Strategic collateral, a clear message, and well-planned touchpoints (including events) help people understand the opportunity and see how they can participate.
Train your team for sustainability. A major campaign is not only about reaching the goal—it can strengthen systems and staff readiness so annual giving remains healthy long after the ribbon cutting.
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